How can we apply the lessons from Ezra 10:35 to modern church discipline? The Context of Ezra 10:35 “Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluh.” • This brief verse falls inside a longer list of men who had taken foreign wives in violation of God’s covenant (Ezra 9:1–2; 10:2). • Ezra names them publicly, calls them to repent, and oversees a concrete plan for restoration (Ezra 10:3, 10–12, 16–17). • Even a single line of names underscores corporate accountability and the seriousness of sin. Principles Visible in a List of Names • Sin is personal and traceable. God records individuals, not just “groups.” • Leadership is not exempt. Earlier verses list priests and Levites as well as laymen. • Public acknowledgement can be necessary. Their names were read before the whole assembly. • Repentance must be specific. Each man brought a guilt offering (Ezra 10:19). • Restoration, not humiliation, is the goal. The process ended with the community purified and worship renewed (Ezra 10:44; cf. 6:19–22). Connecting to New-Covenant Discipline Scripture’s later teaching on church discipline echoes these same themes: 1. Identification of Sin • “If your brother sins, go and point out his fault” (Matthew 18:15). • Like Ezra’s list, the church must recognize sin concretely, not in vague generalities. 2. Impartial Accountability • “Do nothing out of favoritism” (1 Timothy 5:21). • Priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers were all included; likewise, status should never shield anyone today. 3. Gracious Yet Firm Process • Matthew 18:15–17 lays out private confrontation, then two or three witnesses, then the church. • Ezra followed a step-by-step procedure (10:5–8, 12–16), giving time for careful, orderly repentance. 4. Corporate Involvement When Needed • “Tell it to the church” (Matthew 18:17). • Public reading of names in Ezra parallels congregational knowledge when private steps fail. 5. Goal of Restoration • “So that his spirit may be saved” (1 Corinthians 5:5). • Ezra’s men offered sacrifices and remained in the covenant community; the aim was purity AND fellowship. 6. Written Records and Transparency • Ezra kept a written list; Paul sent letters naming unrepentant offenders (2 Timothy 2:17; 3 John 9-10). • Modern churches may document proceedings for clarity, consistency, and legal transparency. Practical Steps for Today • Teach the congregation why discipline exists: love, holiness, protection, and witness (Hebrews 12:6; 1 Peter 1:15–16). • Establish a clear, written policy reflecting Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5. • Apply the policy uniformly—leaders first (James 3:1). • Confront privately, then with witnesses, before involving the church. • If public action becomes necessary, share only what is needed, aiming at repentance, not shame. • Offer a pathway back: genuine confession, evidence of repentance, pastoral care, and restored fellowship (Galatians 6:1). • Keep accurate minutes for accountability and to protect all parties. • Celebrate repentance openly, just as discipline was handled openly (Luke 15:7). Living It Out Ezra 10:35 may look like a mere registry, yet it testifies that God sees individual hearts and calls each believer to holiness. Modern churches honor that same standard when they confront sin lovingly, impartially, and redemptively, leading sinners back to joyful covenant faithfulness. |
    |